Luxury Lodges · Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana
Jack's Camp
Overview
In a palm-fringed oasis in the heart of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi, Jack’s Camp stands as a tribute to exploration, curiosity and the enduring magic of the Kalahari.
Overlooking the vast and shimmering salt pans – the remains of an ancient super-lake that once covered much of southern Africa – the camp combines the romance of a 1940s expedition with the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of this desert environment.
Named after legendary safari pioneer Jack Bousfield, the camp has long been celebrated for its distinctive character and deep connection to the Makgadikgadi. Nine spacious canvas tents are richly styled with Persian rugs, mahogany campaign furniture and colourful textiles, evoking the golden age of safari while offering every modern comfort. At the centre of camp, the famous Persian tea tent, pool pavilion, curio shop and Natural History Museum create a fascinating hub of storytelling, artefacts and exploration.
The experiences here are unlike anywhere else in Africa. Guests can sit with the habituated meerkats, track desert wildlife such as brown hyena, aardwolf and Kalahari lion on game drives, or spend time with the San bushmen learning ancient survival skills and stories of the land.
The Makgadikgadi itself transforms with the seasons. In the dry months the pans stretch endlessly across the horizon, creating the perfect setting for exhilarating quad bike adventures across the salt flats. With the arrival of the rains, the desert awakens as grasses grow and thousands of zebra and wildebeest migrate through the region in one of Africa’s most surprising wildlife spectacles. Jack’s Camp is more than just a safari lodge – it is a place of stories, discovery and timeless style, set in one of the most remarkable landscapes on earth.
Highlights & Experiences
- One of Africa’s most storied and iconic safari camps, set within a one-million-acre private wildlife reserve, and one of just three camps in this vast Makgadikgadi wilderness
- A remarkable collection of ancient artefacts gathered by the Bousfield family over decades, housed within the camp’s Natural History Museum
- A blockbuster line-up of activities led by some of Botswana’s most experienced guides, including quad biking, horseback riding, game drives, San bushmen walks and the famous habituated meerkat encounters
- Seasonal zebra and wildebeest migration (approximately 50,000 animals) moving through the Makgadikgadi from January to April
- Year-round desert wildlife including zebra, wildebeest, springbok, steenbok, elephant, brown hyena, oryx, Kalahari lion and cheetah
Suites & Rates
Choose how you stay
Jack's Camp Double Tent
The 2 double tents are made up of 1 x extra length king sized bed which includes an overhead cooling system. As you walk into your 135sqm tent, you will be greeted by a...
Jack's Camp Twin Tent
All 7 twin tents are made up of 2 x extra length queen sized beds which include an overhead cooling system. As you walk into your 135sqm tent, you will be greeted by a...
Jack's Private Camp
Jack’s Private Camp has two bedrooms, each with their own en-suite bathroom, private veranda and day bed. One room will have an extra length king size bed (double) and the other, two extra length...
Details
Good to know
Accommodation & amenities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, Fridge, Hairdryer, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Lounge, Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Plunge Pool, Private Lounge / Sitting Area, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Stretcher Beds
Languages spoken
English
Ideal for
Adventure, Birding, Cycling, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife
On-site activities
Bird Watching, Cycling, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Helicopter Scenic Flights, High Tea, Horse Riding, Horse-back Safaris, Massages, Night Drives, Quad Biking, Safaris, Sleep Outs
Services
Credit Card Facilities, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Private Vehicle (Available)
Nearby activities
Cultural Tours, Helicopter Scenic Flights, Horse Riding
Property facilities
Accept Credit Cards, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Indoor Pool, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service, Library, Pool, Spa, Vegetarian
Location
Where you'll be
Video
See the stay
Makgadikgadi Camps
Activities
What you can do
Bushman Walk
Discover the secrets of the pans with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on a fascinating bush walk. See this ancient desert landscape through their eyes. These skilled hunter gatherers will show you how to survive, using their extraordinary tracking skills to uncover a smorgasbord of culinary delights... from bulbs, to scorpions, to berries. Spending time with them is a very rare privilege.
Fallen Baobab
A visit to the Fallen Baobab - one of the three largest and oldest trees in Africa and reputedly the campsite of Livingstone and Selous.
Fat Bikes
Grab a fat bike and peddle around the Makgadikgadi Pans. This is a really fun activity for the whole family, and an ideal way to get some exercise. These bikes can easily cruise over the desert terrain, taking you along 4x4 tracks and around the crusty salt flats. Keep a look out for sightings of wildlife, while breathing in the beautiful scenery, alongside the desert silence.
Flamingo Migration
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are one of the most important breeding sites in southern Africa forthe lesser and greater flamingos. These flying flame birds, arrive in their millions during seasons of good rain, when millions of small shrimp and other crustaceans crack through the salty pan crust to spawn. The result, a pink extravaganza in the heat of the desert. You can also heli to Sua Pan to view the flamingos in Mar - Apr (scenic helicopter flight must be booked at an additional cost).
Game Drives
Take game drives and night drives in custom built 4x4s to spot the unique desert wildlife that inhabit the pans, like the elusive brown hyena or Kalahari lion. Your experienced safari guide will help you discover a desert landscape, pulsating with life. Complete with bush picnics, morning coffees and chilled drinks.
Horse Riding
Saddle up to explore this wild, unspoilt area in the same way many of the earliest explorers, huntersand missionaries did – on horseback! You’ll embark on an adventurous outride (for all level riders). This is an exhilarating way to spot wildlife, cantering along the crusty salt flats and following the animalhighways that bring life to the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Meet the Meerkats
Get up close and personal with our families of meerkats. Leaving camp as the sun begins to rise you will accompany these inquisitive members of the mongoose family as they set off in search of their breakfast. Walk amongst them (you're not allowed to touch or feed them) and if you take a seat you might be lucky enough to be mistaken for a termite mound, where you'll be used as a look out point for predators.
Quad Biking (seasonal activity)
This is pure desert adventure! Take an exhilarating quad bike across the salt-crusted pans (all pan activity is weather permitting and dependent on the dryness of the pans). You’ll feel total freedom as you trek across this vast and ancient landscape, discovering so much about the remnants of this once super lake.Seasonal: April - October
Scenic Helicopter Flights (additional cost)
This really is an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a helicopter flight over the Makgadikgadi Pans, doors off (or on), to take in the vastness of this desert landscape. You’ll go in search of the zebra and flamingo migrations (if timed correctly), get dropped on an island of baobabs for lunch, do a bit of sunset sky surfing as you follow the palm tree linings and tell all your friends about it all when you get home.
Spa Treatments (additional cost)
If you are in need of some serious time out, then one of our spa treatments is your perfect escape. Our professional therapist will put you in seventh heaven. Book a back massage overlooking the Makgadikgadi Pans or enjoy a relaxing spa treatment from the privacy of your tent. Whichever you decide, you’ll walk away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Zebra and Wildebeest Migration (November - April)
Witness the second largest migration in Africa. A stonking spectacle of black and white stripesas approximately 30,000 zebra and wildebeest migrate across the Makgadikgadi Pans, followed closely by stalking predators, waiting for the rich pickings of tired hooves. This is a wildlife explosion and an experience not to be missed!
Ready to plan your stay?
Tell us your dates and we'll handle the rest — flights, transfers and the lodge itself.
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